I lived in New Orleans from 2003-2006. During that time the Gulf Coast was a hot bed of activity for hurricanes. I evacuated New Orleans twice because I thought it was the end of the world. One time it was.
What to expect if you don’t evacuate:
- High winds.
- Lots of rain.
- Loss of power.
- Loss of cell phone usage.
- Sheer boredom.
What you should have if you don’t evacuate:
- Water. One gallon per day per person.
- Non-perishable food. If you lose power, that milk will go bad.
- Battery powered radio (and the batteries to use it).
- Something to keep you entertained that doesn’t need power (or can run off batteries).
What to expect if you do evacuate:
- To be watching the news 24/7.
- Getting to know all the anchors on The Weather Channel.
- Being worried and scared out of your mind that the worst will happen and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
- Lots of traffic when you’re trying to leave.
What you should do if you do evacuate:
- Pack all your valuables (i.e. jewelry, laptop, photos and heirlooms that can’t be replaced).
- Important paperwork (apartment lease, insurance papers, etc.).
- Enough clean underwear and clothes to get you through a week.
- Credit cards and cash.
Evacuation is like taking a long vacation, except you don’t know where exactly you’re going (unless you already have a hotel booked) or how long you will be gone. Hurricanes are nothing to mess around with and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If Jim Cantore shows up in your town, you better run. That guy is a magnet for the target of hurricanes. Seriously though, the best thing to do is to be safe and listen to authorities.
I know there are things that I’m missing. I hope the other hurricane vets around here can add on to my lists.
Photo from: NASA Goddard
